Apparatus for treating shoe materials



Feb. 28, 1928.

' F. M. FURBER APPARATUS FOR TREATING snon MATERIALS Filed Nov. 5. 1924 Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK M. summit, or REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, AS IaNon 'ro UNITED SHOE MACHINERY oonronarron, or PATERVSION, new JERSEY, A conrona'rron or NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS roe rnnarme SHOE MATERIALS.

Application filed November 3, 1924. Serial No. 747,523.

a This invention relates to apparatus for treating shoe materials and more part1cularly to apparatus by which hot moist vapor is supplied as a treating medium. The llustrated apparatus is of the type comprising a steam-chest to furnish radiant heatand to convert water into hotnioist vapor at one or more treating stations.

In the manufacture of boots and Shoes it is now customary to administer softening treatment to the vamp and the toe stiffener immediately prior to the pullingover operamediately prior to the lasting operation for similar reasons. WVhile these two treating operations are similar in purpose, they are usually practised by the use of different styles otapparatus. The reasons why one style of apparatus is used preparatory to the pulling-over operation, While another style is used preparatory to the lasting operation, are now so Well known that it is not necessary at this time to discuss them and it will be suflicient to state here that the style of apparatus shown by the accompan ing drawings is designed to condition t e materialsfor the lasting operation. It is to be understood, however, that certain features of the present invention are not to be limited to use in conditioning shoe materials for lasting. v

One object of the invention is to provide a steam-heated treating apparatus so organized as to insure, even when it is operating at the highest possible temperature as well as at lower temperatures, sufiicient condensation ofsteam to maintain a supply of water of condensation to be converted into hot moist vapor to treat the work.

Another object is to organize the appara tus so that no steam can escape with the water of condensation that is discharged to be converted into vapor to treat the Work.

The first of the above-mentioned objects is attained by providing acondenser the r level and thence to the seal-forming porstreams will flow towardseparate vaporiz-- tions irrespective of the temperature of the steam-chest, and even if the steam-chest be maintained at a temperature considerably above the boiling temperature so that no steam would be condensed in it, the thermally insulated condenser alone will maintain a constant Supply of Water of condensation for the purpose stated.

The Second of the aforesaid objects is attained by a novel arrangement of the piping through which the water of condensation is discharged. This piping is arranged to form a water-seal remote fromthermal influence of the steam-chest, and therefore outside the latter, so that it will not be dissipated by high temperature of the steamchest. 1

To obtain the desired results in the fullest degree the condenser is preferably interposed bet-Ween the steanrchest and that portion oft-he water-pipe that forms the waterseal, to insure a sufficient quantity of sealing water under all conditions of use. Furthermore, the condenser is preferably arranged to drain all water of condensation dowmvardly from the bottom of the steamchest, and the seal-forming portion of the water-pipe is preferably arranged to drain water downwardly from the condenser. In consequence of organizing the elements in the relation just specified, water of condensa tion will flow by gravity from the bottom of the steanrchest to the condenser at a lower ion of the water-pipe at a still lower level, before going tothe upper level Where it is discharged. p

Another object of the invention is to provide for rapiddistribution of water from one area to other areas of the heated surface by which the water is to; be converted into vapor. A feature relatingto this aspect of the inventionyconsists in p'roi iding Said heated surface with areassloping downwardly in opposite directions from the oint at which thewater is received, to divi e the water into separate streams so that said.

ing localities. The illustrated construction isdesigned to provide a series of an separate treating stations, and the lconduit for supplying the water is arranged to deliver tities of vapor for each of the stations under control and regulation by a single wator valve, and counteracts a harmful practice that prevails with apparatus 111 winch the vapor is supplied unequally to several treating stations. The said practice consists in regulating the supply of vapor to produce a visible excess at those stations that receive the smallest quantities, and the result is that the larger quantities supplied to the other stations stain and sometin'ies burn the shoes undergoing treatment.

Other features of the inventionare shown by. the drawings and are hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. lis a front elevation, partly broken away to show internal construction, of an apparatus embodying the several features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the preferred type of work support adjusted to support a shoe for treatment in an inverted position.

A cast iron unit 10, including an elongated, horizontal steam-chest, is formed with bosses 12 one at each end to receive Standards 14; by which it is supported. The standards may be relatively long or short, according to whether is desired to stand the apparatus on the floor or on a bench. Each standard is provided at its lower end with a base 16 to stand on the floor or bench, as the case may be. The steam space of this chest is indicated at 18. One end of the steam-chest is formed with a boss to receive a steam supply pipe 20 and the other end is-formed with a boss to receive an exhaust or return pipe 22. These pipes are provided withvalves 24 and 26 respectively to control-the admission and escape of the steam and to regulate the fluid pressure in the steam-chamber 18. The upper wall of the steam-chamber is indicated at 28, and

above this wall and separated therefrom is a horizontal wall 30 which forms the bottom of a series of individual work stations or treating chambers 32. The space 34 between the walls 28 and 30 constitutes a vaporizing chamber into which water is delivered and converted in vapor as hereinafter described, the wall 30 having holes 36 through which the vapor may rise from the chamber 34 to enterthe treating chambers A series of upright walls 38 form the sides of the treating chambers and are connected by a continuous rear wall 4L0 and by an inclined top wall 4L2. Each chamber 32 is therefore in the form of a cowl and is of a size suitable to receive the forepart of a shoe. As shown by F ig. 2, the steamchest projects to the rear of the treating chambers, and the portion so projecting is provided with a standpipe id through which the water is conducted downwardly from a supply valve 46. A cup or funnel i8 is preferably attached to the upper end of the pipe at to receive the water from the valve. The cup and valve are preferably located above the level of the top of the unit 10 to enable the user to observe the rate at which the water is discharging.

A condenser 50 is arranged under the stea1nchest and is in communication with the latter by means of a short section of pipe 52. This condenser is supported in part by the pipe 52 and in part by brackets 54, and except for these connections, which have no appreciable heat-conducting capacity, the condenser is thermally insulated from the steam-chest and is almost wholly surrounded by the atmosphere and therefore maintained at relatively low temperature. Any water of condensation that is formed in the steam-chest will be drained by gravitation into the condenser 50 by the pipe 52, and to promote such drainage the bottom wall of the steam-chest is formed with a trough 56 leading to the pipe 52. The condenser 50 is preferably made of a cylindric section of relatively large pipe and two pressure-tight headers or screw 'aps 58. The inlet pipe 52 is screwed into/the top of the condenser, while a discharge pipe 60 drains water by gravitation from the bottom of the condenser and conducts it to the valve 46 hereinbefore mentioned. The low part of the pipe (30 is Usl1aped to provide a sealforming trap by which steam is prevented from escaping with the water of condensation. By reason of its location the trap is maintained at a temperature but little if any hotter than the atmosphere. Furthermore, the/water by which the seal is formed and replenished is supplied by the condenser which, being interposed between the steamchest and the water-seal, maintains the seal with water of relatively low temperature irrespective of the temperature of the steamchest. With'this construction the internal fluid pressure in the chamber 18 obtains in the pipe 52, in the condenser 50 and in the pipe 60, and is the moving force by which the water of condensation is elevated to and discharged from the valve 46.

The water delivered into the cup or funnel e8 flows by gravity through the pipe 44 and enters a small recess or receivingchamber at the rear of and adjoining the vaporizing chamber 34. As shown by Fig. 1, the chamber 35 is midway between the ends of the series of treating chambers, that is, in registerwith the partition that divides the second and third treating chambers from sitely pitched sloping areas 63 in register withthe firstand fourth chambers. These sloping areas form Valleys in register with the partitions between the first and second chambers and the third and fourth chambers. The water delivered to. the receiving chamber 35 is therefore divided into two streams which fiow in opposite directions on the sloping areas 62 and arearrested by the oppositely sloping areas 63 and then almost stainin immediately converted into vapor. The va por-generating localities are thus localized in the aforesaid valleys so that the several chambers 32 all receive substantially equal quantities of vapor. This feature guards against the aforesaid harmful practice of or burning some of the shoes by furnishing too much vapor to them under conditions of unequal distribution of vapor.

WVhen the apparatusis in operation, the temperature of the entire cast iron unit 10 may be regulated by adjusting the valves 24, 26. These adjustments also regulate the internal fluid pressure in the steamschest as wellas that in the condenser and the water supply pipe 60. At first the steam admitted to the chamber 18 will undergoconsiderable condensation by reason of the low initial temperature of the unit 10. The water of condensation thus formed will drain into the condenser where it will be stored and from which it will be discharged under control of the valve 46 as required. At the same time, steam enters the condenser 50 and is promptly condensed. The accumulation of water of condensation in the condenser is rapid, and since the temperature of the condenser is always low it is impossible for steam to pass through the water and enter the pipe 60. Even when the unit 10 isheated to its highest temperature the comp-arm tively cool water in the condenser prevents the passage of steam and maintains a supply of water that keeps the condenser filled and the water-seal intact. The water of condensation is always under pressure equal to that in the steam-chest, which pressure need not be more than two or three pounds per square inch to effect its discharge whcn the valve 46. is open.

The walls forming the treating chambers 32 are integral parts of the iron casting 10 in which the steam chamber 18 is formed. Consequently, these walls ofthe casting be come heatedto a hightemperature whether treating vapor is generated or not, and radiate heat to the shoes. If it is desired tosupplement the radiant heat by hot moist vapor, it is only necessary to open the valve 46, whereupon the water discharged by the valve will be delivered to the up or surface of the wall 28 by which it is (ivided in two streams and distributed, is hereinbfore explained, and almost immediately converted into vapor. The vapor is baffled more or less and distributed laterally by the horizontal wall 30but rises through the holes 36 in said wall and then passes directly to the articles of work.

-The drawings also illustrate a preferred type of work-su 'iporting means by which a series of pulled-over shoes may be supported right side up or bottom side up as desired. The worksupporting means is not claimed in this application since it has heretofore been disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 616,602, filed February 2, 1923. Nevertheless, the following is a' brief description of said means.

A board. of wood or any other suitable heat-insulating material is fastened to the front upright surface of the steam-chest by clamping bolts 72 and is provided with vertical slots 74 to afford a range of vertical adjustment. As shown in Fig. l, the upper edge of this board is formed with a series of curvedgnotches or recesses 76 that register respectively with the treatingchambers 32 while the lower ed 'e 7 8 is strai ht and hori V h i b zontal. These two different formations are provided for different uses since the board is intended tobe inverted when the shoes are to stand right sideup as hereinafter explained. Another board, indicated at 80, is

connected to the board 70 bytwo metallic supporting bars 82. These bars are pivot? ally connected to ,theends respectively of the board TO by bolts 84 the threads of which co per-ate with internal threads formed in the board 70 so that when the bolts are set up tightly they will clamp the bars to hold them rigidly in whatever position they are placed. The board 80 is connectedto the bars 82 by clamping bolts having knobs 86,,

these holtscxtending through slots-88 in the bars and being adapted to clamp the board 80 to the bars at any desired position within bers 32. The notches 90 are preferably V- shaped to conform approximately to the socalled cone portion of the last. Thus, when the boards and-8O are in the relation shown by Fig. 3, they will maintain the shoes in inverted position with the foreparts occupying the treating chambers 32.

If it is desired to support the shoes right side up for treatment, as shown in Fig. 2, the board 70 will be inverted and its straight, horizontal edge 78 will be at a level far enough above the bottom wall 30 of the treating chambers to maintain the depending marginal portions of the uppers from touching said wall. At the same time the board 80 will be turned about the axis of the clamping bolts 86 so that one of its straight surfaces will be uppermost and nearly if not quite horizontal. One of its flat major surfaces or its straight edge may be used for this purpose, both of which uses are shown in Fig. 2. The desired elevation of the board 80 is afforded by angular adjusting movement of the bars 82 about the axis of the bolts 84. In this case, the upper surface of the board 80 and the straight, horizontal upper surface of the board 70 constitute a flat, if not always a level, platform on which the lliottoms of the pulled-over shoes may stanc.

If it is desired to confine the vapor in the treating chambers by restricting the open ings through which the forepa'rts are inserted, the treating chambers may be provided.

with adjustable plates 92. These plates are connected individually to the rear walls of the treating chambers by hinges 94 but their forward portions project beyond the treating chambers and are all connected by a rod 96 to afford convenient means by which they may be adjusted collectively. An adjustable supporting link 98 is connected to the rod 96, as here shown, by being formed with an eye through which the rod extends. This link is clamped to a bracket 97 by a clamping bolt 95, the link having a slot 99 to afford the necessary range of adjustment. The bracket 97 is affixed to the top of the structure forming the chambers 32. This feature comprising the adjustable plates 92 is not herein claimed since it is disclosed and claimed in my aforesaid copending applicationSerial No. 616,602.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest, the combination therewith of a condenser thermally insulated from said steam-chest but in communication therewith to receive steam, means to supply water of condensation from said condenser to an upper surface of said steam-chest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor, and means to support an article of work in position to be treated by the vapor so produced.

2. An apparatus for treating shoe mate rials comprising a pressure-sustaining steamchest, means to drain water of condensation by gravitation from the bottom of said chest and deliver it to an upper surface thereof to be converted into vapor, said means beingverted into vapor, said means being arranged to form a water-seal remote from therma influence of said steam-chest. a. An apparatus for treating shoe mate rials comprising a steam-heated structure including a pressure-sustaining steam-chest for radiating heat to the work, means to drain water of condensation downwardly from the bottom of said steam-chest and deliver it to an external surface of said structure to be converted into hot moist vapor, said means including a pressure-sustalning condenser below the level of the bottom-of said steam-chest, and means to support an article of work in the field of vapor generated by said surface.

5. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest and means to support the work in the held of radiant heatadjacent thereto, the combination therewith of a condenser thermally insulated from said steam-chest but in communication therewith to receive steam, and means to supply water of condensation from said condenser to an external surface of said steamchest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor to treat the work.

6. In an apparatus for treating shoe ma terials comprising a steam-chest and means to support the work above and adjacent thereto, the combination therewith of a condenser arranged under and thermally insulated from said steam-chest but in communication therewith to receive steam and drain water of condensation therefrom, and means to supply water of condensation from said condenser to an upper surface of said steam-chest to be thereby converted. into hot moist vapor to treat the work.

7. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest, the combination therewith of a pressure-sustaining reservoir separate from and at a lower level than said steam-chest but in communication therewith to receive steam and to drain the water of condensation from the steam-chest, means to supply water of condensation from said reservoir to an external "surface of said steam-chest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor to treatthework, and meansto supportthe work in position to be treated by such vapor. 1.

8. In an apparatus fortreating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest and means to support the work adjacent thereto, the

combination therewith of an elongated pressure-sustaining reservoir separate from but in communication with said steam-chest to drain water of condensation therefrom, the major dimension of said reservoir being horizontal, and means to supply water of condensation from said reservoir to an external surface 01' said steam-chest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor totreat the work.

9. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a pressure-sustaining steam-chest and means to support the work in the field of radiant heat adjacent thereto, the combination therewith of a conduit ar ranged to drain water of condensation downwardly from the bottom of said steam-chest and deliver the same to an upper surface of said steam-chest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor to treat the work.

10. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest and means to support the work adjacent thereto, the combination therewith of a conduit arranged to drain water ofcondensation downwardly from the bottom of said steam-chest and deliver the same to an external surface of said steam-chest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor to treat the work, said conduit including an intermediate storage chamber thermally insulated from and below the level of said steam-chest to store water of condensation for delivery as aforesaid.

11.'An apparatus fortreating shoe materials comprising a steamheated unit having a pressure-sustaining steam-chest, a vaporizing chamber above and contiguous to, said steam-chest, and a work-treating chamber above and contiguous tosaid vaporizing chamber, saidcliambers having one or more communicating passageways for vapor and said steam-chest and said work-treating chamber being thermally related so that the steam-chest will supply and the wallsof the treating chamber will radiate heat to the work independently of the treating vapor, and means to supply water of condensation to said vaporizing chamber from the steam and water of condensation in said chest.

12. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest and means to support the work adjacent thereto, the combination therewith of a pressure-sustaining reservoir for condensing steam into water, a conduit arranged to drain water of condensation and conduct steam from said steam-chest to said reservoir, and means to vaporizing chamber above and contiguous to said steam-chest, and a series of work-treating chambers above and in communication with said vaporizing chamber, a pressuresustaining water-reservoir supported under said steam-chest, a conduit arranged to drain water of condensation and conduct steam from said steam-chest to said reservoir, and means to supply water from said reservoir to said vaporizing chamber to furnish vapor for treating the work.

14. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising means forming a series of treating stations side by side, a heat-radiating element underlying each of said stations, and means to deliver water to an upper surface of said heat-radiatmg element, said up per surface having areas that slope downwardly in different directions from the lo- :ality at which the water is delivered thereto to distribute the water under a plurality of said stations.

15. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising means forming a series of treating stations side by side, a heat-radiating element underlying each of said stations, and means arranged to deliver water to an upper surface of said heat-radiating element at a point between two of said stations, said surface having areas that slope downwardly and laterally in opposite directions from said point to divide the water into separate streams and distribute the water under a plurality of said stations. 1

16. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising means forming a series of treating stations side by side, a heat-radiating elementunderlying each of said stations, and means arranged to deliver water to an upper surface of said heat-radiating element at a point out of register with each of said stations, said surface having angularly' related areas that slope downwardly from said "point and extend under a plurality of said stations to distribute the water while it is being heated. V I

17. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a horizontally elongated heat-radiating element, means arranged to support a series of articles of work to be treated over and adjacent to said element, means arranged to discharge water on an upper surface of said heat-radiating element which surface extends under the stations to be occupied by the articles of work and is formed to divide the water into separate streams and distribute the latter to separate localities, and bafile means arranged to equalize the distribution of vapor rising from said surface to the articles of work.

18. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a series of individual treating chambers separated from each other by partitions, a heat-radiating element having an upper surface extending under each of said chambers, and means to deliver water to said surface to be converted thereby into hot moist vapor to treat the articles of work in said chambers, said surface having a series of inclined areas in register with said chambers respectively and forming valleys in register with certain of said partitions to divide the water into separate bodies and localize such bodies. 7 19. An apparatus for treating shoe-materials comprising a steam-heated structure having a steam-chest, means forming one or more treating chambers above said steamchest, a water-conduit the receiving end of which is above the level of the top of one of said chambers and in a field of observation, and the discharge end of which is ar ranged to discharge the water on an upper surface of said steam-heated structure extending under said one or more treating chambers, and a pressure-sustaining conduit in communication with said steam-chest and leading downwardly from the bottom of said chest and thence to a point above and in register with said receiving end of the first said conduit to supply water of condensation to the latter, said pressure-sustaining conduit having a regulating valve and the space between the adjacent ends of said conduits affording observation of the water passing from one conduit to the other. I

20. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-heated structure having a pressure-sustaining steam-chest, a pressuresustaining reservoir thermally insulated from said steam-chest but arranged to drain water of condensation therefrom, a conduit arranged to drain water from the bottom of said reservoir and deliver such water to an external surface of said stean1- heated structure to be converted into hot moist vapor to treat the work, and means to support the work in position to be treated by such vapor.

21. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a pressure-sustaining steamchest, means for supporting the work in the field of heat radiated therefrom, and a conduit arranged to drain water of condensation downwardly from the bottom of said steam-chest and deliver such water to an external surface of the latter to furnish vapor for the work, said conduit including a condenser and a trap to form a water-seal both of which are thermally insulated from said steam-chest.

22. An apparatus for treating shoe mate rials comprising a pressure-sustaining steamchest, means for supporting the work in the field of heat radiated therefrom, and a conduit arranged to drain water of condensation downwardly from the bottom of said steamchest and deliver such water to an external surface of the latter to furnish vapor for the work, said conduit including a sealforming trap and a condenser below the level of and thermally insulated from said steamchest, and said condenser being interposed between the steam-chest and said trap.

23. An apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-heated structure including a pressuresustaining steam-chest, means to drain water of condensation from the bottom of said steam-chest and deliver it to an upper surface of said structure to be converted into hot 'moist vapor, said means including a pressure-sustaining condenser to condense any steam received from said steam-chest, and means to support an article of work in the field of vapor generated by said surface.

24. In an apparatus for treating shoe materials comprising a steam-chest and means to support the work adjacent thereto, the combination therewith of a conduit ar ranged to drain water of condensation from said steam-chest and deliver the same to an external surface of said stez n-chest to be thereby converted into hot moist vapor to treat the work, said conduit including an intermediate storage chamber thermally insulated from said steam-chest to store water of condensation for, delivery as aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK M. FURBER. 

